Gutter protector



March 2, 1937. w. E. ABBITT GUTTER PROTECTOR Filed June 19, 1934 Wormen Patented Mar. 2, 1.937 y i STATES PATENT OFFICE lodi'rtrER Prioriteiten Wyatt E. Abbia; charleston, W. va; Application June 19, 1934, serial No. 731,336

` 1 claim.v (oidos-3m) This invention relates to gutter protectors and hasvforY 'its object `the provision; of asimpleand eicient protector forgutters, eaves-troughs, and the like, whereby thelgutter or eaves-trough may be kept free of leavesand other debris at all times, so that the water from the roof may pass off freely. c f

Another object of this invention is the productionyofgasimple and efficient gutter protector which is so, mounted upon the roof asto completely overhang the gutter and shield the same against the entrance of leaves and other debris, the protector being capableof being swung to an open positionvto permit access to the interior 15 of the trough or gutter when desired.'

A, further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eiiicient gutter protector whereby the protector is made of a plurality of sections which are individually hinged to the roof so that the individual sections may be swung to an open position when desired.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a simple and efficient gutter protector formed of wire mesh having transversely 25` extending spaced reinforcing rods inserted therethrough for the purpose of stiiening and bracing the protector so as to prevent the protector from cupping or` bending under the weight of snow and ice.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a simple and eicient hinge connection for hingedly securing the protector in engagement with a roof.

3,. Figure l is a sectional perspective view through a portion of a roof showing one form of gutter construction commonly known as the secret gutter showing the improved protector in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar sectional perspective view to that as illustrated in Figure 1, the protector being shown in an open position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one oi the sections lof the protector showing the hinges secured 45 thereto mounted upon a portion of the roof which is shown broken away for the purpose of illustration, the shingles being removed;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the protector' and illustrating the hinge, taken o on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the hinge is constructed;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the hinge illustrating the manner in which the hinge is bent 55 to form its hinging connection with the protector Y type.

and illustrating. the, manner in which'the cut-out spurs are bent toV facilitate the anchoring of the hinge in position;

*.Figure 7 is a detail perspective View illustrating the manner in which the hinge is connected to the protector and also showing in enlarged detail one of the stiffening rods.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I0 designates the building Vupon which the gutter structure II isbuilt, the building carrying a suitably inclined roof I2 which ispreferably covered with shingles I3 ofany suitable or desired The gutter Il. illustrated is of the secret gutter type, but it should be understood that any suiable or desired form of gutter may be employedfwithoutdeparting from the spirit ofthe invention. In order to close the top of the gutter and thereby shield the gutter against the entrance leaves and other debris which would tend to clog up or to deteriorate the gutter, I provide a protector I4 which comprises a plurality of 20 individually hinged sections I5, and these sections I5 are preferably made approximately three feet in length and are a suicient width to span the distance from the edge of the roof to the forward edge of the trough II. Each section l5 comprises preferably a rectangular wire mesh screen body preferably one-half inch square mesh, or hardware mesh, being galvanized or copper. Located near each end and extending transversely across the body of each wire mesh 30 section I5 is an end stiiening wire I6 preferably #14 gauge and of larger gauge than the wire mesh body, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the wire I 6 being alternately threaded through the mesh, such for example as illustrated in Figure '7, although it should be understood that this stiffening wire may be in any manner secured without departing from the spirit of the invention. Intermediate transversely extendingI stiiening wires I'l also of larger gauge than the wire mesh body as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, are also secured and carried by the wire mesh body or section I5, and are preferably arranged at equally spaced intervals to eiiiciently reinforce the wire mesh section I5 and brace the section so as to prevent the same from cupping or bending under the weight of the snow or ice. I employ a plurality of these sections I5 which are arranged to have their adjacent ends in relatively close abutting relation, such as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 to provide a continuous shield throughout the entire length of the gutter or eaves-trough. Any suitable or desired number may be employed andby providing the protector in a plurality of sections, the sections may be raised and lowered without difficulty to obtain access to the interior of the gutter, and at the Same time will not have a tendency to warp or get out of shape as would be the case if relatively long sections were provided or if the protector were made in one piece.

The sections I5 are preferably hingedly connected to the roof at four approximately equally spaced points by means of especially constructed hinge or clip members I8. Each hinge member is preferably formed from a blank sheet of material of any suitable metal or other similar material, as is shown in detail in Figure 5. Each hinge member is provided with a projecting tongue I9 which is rolled, as indicated in Figure 6, to provide a journal and to extend over one of the longitudinally extending wires, preferably the wire 20 extending along the rear edge of the section I5 thereby permitting the sections to be easily and conveniently swung. The body of the hinge is provided with a plurality of angular slits 2I along one side edge and a plurality of angularly extending slits 22 upon the opposite side edge as shown in Figure 5, to permit of the formation of oppositely extending pointed spurs 23 and 24 upon opposite sides of the body of the hinge members I8. These spurs 23 and 24 will constitute an efficient means for holding the hinge members I8 in position without the necessity of employing additional securing means. When mounting the parts in position the clips or hinge members I8 are forced under the roofing or shingles I3, the spurs 24 biting into the roof I 2 and the spurs 23 biting into the underface of the roofing or shingles I3. 'I'he hinge members or clips I8 will, in this manner, be held firm ly in position. The projecting tongue I9 is then threaded through the Wire mesh section I5 so as to extend around the rear strand of the wire as shown in Figure '7, to provide an ecient hinge connection. The forward edges of the sections I5 will then rest upon the forward edge of the gutter I I, and by lying substantially at upon the forward edge of the gutter, the protector screen will be shielded from view from the outside.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be em ployed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

As a new article of manufacture, a gutter protector comprising an elongated wire mesh body, transversely extending reinforcing stifening wires of a larger gauge than the wire mesh body arranged in spaced relation throughout the length of the body intermediate the ends of the body and extending across the full width of the body from the rear edge to the front edge thereof whereby the body throughout its length may be stiffened and braced at spaced intervals to prevent the sagging and warping of the wire mesh body when leaves and other debris accumulate upon the body, the wire mesh body constituting the sole marginal outer edge of the protector, and hinge means secured to the body in close proximity to the stifening wires.

WYATT E. ABBITT. 

